My Name is Wawa
When I was married, my wife would often complain about my penchant for watching television. While she viewed it as a boring past time, I saw it as a learning experience. I told her I don't watch television the way most people do. Every so often I get the chance to explain that concept:I was watching a My Name is Earl episode called "Cost Dad an Election" on CW Philly tonight and noticed something strange. During the episode, there is a wide shot that shows the sky. In the background was a Wawa billboard, which I found odd. Wawa is too regional a brand to show up in a Hollywood-produced show, so what's with the billboard?
Since I have the DVD, I popped it in and voilà, no billboard. CW Philly had it added in. The photo shows the DVD version, with the blank sky. I wish I had the presence of mind to rewind the show while I had it on, but take my word for it, there was a Wawa sign back there.
And then I heard that the episode was sponsored by Wawa, so the shameless tie-in made sense. Have the producers done this in other areas with other local franchises? I'm not sure if I'm in favor of electronically manipulating programs to insert advertisements. But, I noticed, didn't I?
And that's exactly what they wanted.
Comments
Although it can be seen under educational aspects or like "a window to the world", most of the time watching TV is just a simulation of life - impersonal, standardized (amateur) theater in lieu of your own life.
And that's the saddest of all things!
It is the same thing here only they are making use of the advanced technology and can now focus on a specific brand in each location that TV program plays. For instance, while watching a Cub’s game one will see local advertising on the wall of the front row seats behind the batter that changes throughout the game. If they are playing Philadelphia the TV viewers there will see their towns local advertising, but at the park the wall is actually blank, usually painted black giving them the ability to computer generate any brand name they wish behind the batter….very creative!
Later…
What they did was artificially enhance a program digitally, and that strikes me as dishonest.
The reason the one at the ballpark has to be blank is that it shouldn't be a distraction to the pitcher, who would most certainly see a revolving ad.
I have plenty to do in my work and social time that I can work in a few hours of TV viewing without seeming like an escapist.